Safety fuse-box.



No. 699,045. Patented Apr. 2'9,-l90 2.

J. T. WATSON.

SAFETY FUSE BOX.

(Application filed July 8, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 sheets sheet l.

FIG. 2.

lvitmohw THE NORRIS PETERS co v PHDTOLITHD,\VAS mm N a No; 699,045;Patented Apr. 29,1901

J. T. WATSON.

SAFETY FUSE BOX.

A lication filed July 8, 1901) nomouem v 1 2Sheeis-Sheet 2/ FIG. E1. k C11 1 .1

Urvrrrzn STATES FArENr G F19 JAMES T. \VATSON, OF SORANTON,PENNSYLVANIA.

SAFETY FUSE-BOX.

srnorrronrlolv forming part of LettersP atent No. eeepean'aeed April 29,1902. Application filed July 8,1901; Serial No. 67,484:- (No model.)

To 60% whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES '1. WATsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSafety Fuse- Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of theinvention,suchaswillenable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in safety fuse-boxes, and has forits object to provide a device for automatically inserting fuses in anelectric circuit successively, so-

that as fast as one fuse blows out another fuse is inserted withoutinterrupting the circuit for any appreciable time.

In order to more fully describe my said invention, reference will be hadto the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 represents a backelevation of the Fig. 2 represents a central vertical section on theline 2 2, Fig. 3, looking in the;

device.

direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 represents a horizontal section on theline 3 3, Fig. 2,1001;- ing in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4. is aplan view of one of the fuse-holders. Fig. 5 is a perspective View ofthe same. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a portion of the device, andFig. 7 is a front elevation of a portion of the device.

The same letters are used to designate similar parts throughouttheseveral views.

A represents an inclosing case, preferably made of some insulatingmaterial. Within this case A are mounted a pair of verticallydisposedguides at a, one uponeach side of the case, and are alsocomposedofinsulating material. at the bottom thereof, are a pair ofmetallic plates 0. a and below these plates are a pair of stops a a toeachof which are connected the cords b b,-passing-over the pulleys 19 brepectively, carried in the brackets b b respectively, secured to theside of the case A. The stops a a are carried upon the upper I ends ofthe springs c 0, each of said springs being provided with a screw 0 c,to which are connected the wires 0 0 respectively, connecting the sameto the binding-posts O D, respectively.

Secured upon each of these guides,-

Upon the top of the case A is mounted the jelectrom agnet-E, providedwith the armature e, pivoted at c to the upright 6 I fis an adjustablestop-screw threaded in the standard F, adapted to set and limit theupward swing of the armature e.

In the upper part of the standard F are mounted a pair of pulleys ffover which pass the cords b b, the ends of these cords b and I) beingboth secured to the hook e upon the end of the armature e.

G Hare standards in the upper portions of which are mounted thepulleys'g h, respectively, over which the cords b b respectively pass. 7

One terminal of the wire coil upon the elec tromagnet E is connected tothe binding-post I, and the remaining terminal is connected to thebinding-post J, this binding-post J being :connected to the metallicplate a by the wire 7'. The opposite metallic plate a mounted fin theside of the case A, is connected by the ;wire 70 to the binding-post K.

Within the case and running crosswise between the sides of the same areadapted to be placed a plurality of fuse-holders L, free to slidevertically. These fuse-holders are made of any suitable insulatingmaterial and are piled one upon another, the bottom holder in the pileresting upon and'being supported by the stops a a Referring particularlyto Figs. 3, 4:, and 5, it will be seen that these fuse-holders L areprovided with a longitudinal slot Z, and at each end of these slots areprovided the rectangular metallic blocks M M.

Upon the bottom of each of the blocks or holders L and at the endsthereof are provided metallic plates N N, secured in place by the screws'n n, the screws 71. passing into the Y blocks M, forming an electricalcontact therewith. Passing through these metallic blocks M M aremetallic studs or pins 0, disposed longitudinally of the holder L, andare so 1ocated that when the f use-holder is in position with itsmetallic plates N N resting upon the stops 0. a the outer ends of thesepins Oflare in a direct line with the metallic plates a a of the guidesat a of the case. These rods or pins 0 are provided with a coiled spring0, which normally tends to throw said pins outward against said metallicplates; but this is prevented as long as the fuse at remains imtactbetween the screws P P, as the fuse is placed in the holder under aslight tension, opposing the action of the springs o o. The two springsare electrically connected together by the small wire 0 which runsbehind the holder and enters perforations near the ends of the holderand are there soldered to the springs. The pins 0 are made in twosections insulated from one another by the coupling 0 which may be ofhard rubber, fiber, or other suitable material threaded into the twometallic sections, thus forming an insulating-coupling. Each of theseholders or blocks L is adapted to be placed in position between theguides a co, and for this purpose the end of each holder has a groove Qcut into it, the groove R in the metallic plate N being made larger inorder not to touch the metallic plate a a in said guides a a. The upperedges of these holders are beveled off also to allow the stops to a topass to grip the bottom of the next holder when the bottom holder isreleased. In order to facilitate the insertion of fuses in these holdersL, a pair of holes S S are madein the upperside thereof, opposite thescrews PP, to allow a screw-driver or the like to be inserted.

The operation of the device is as follows, assuming that the device isto be employed in the circuit with an alternating current: The wires areconnected to the binding-posts C D. W'hen used with an alternatingcurrent, an auxiliary source of direct current must be employed tooperate the magnetically-operated mechanism. For ordinary purposes abattery of cells of any suitable type may be connected to the wires X Y,connected to the binding-posts I K. The connections being now made foran alternating current, the course of said alternating current is asfollows, assuming that the current enters at O: From here it flowsthrough the wire 0, spring 0, and stops a into the metallic plate N,through the screw 12, through the fuse a, screw 01, plate N, stops a,spring 0, wire 0 and out through the binding-post D. Until the currentrises high enough to blow the fuse this circuit remains unbroken, theentire current passing through the fuse of the lower holder L; but whenthe current i11- creases beyond certain limits then the fuse will blowout, breaking the alternating-current circuit, and will allow the pins 0O to be sprung outward by their springs and form contact with themetallic plates (6 (L This completes the circuit, with the local orauxiliary circuit as follows: Starting with the binding-post I, thecurrent passes through the electromagnet E, through the bindingpost J,wirej, metallic plate at", pin 0, spring 0, wire 0 to the spring 0 andpin 0 upon the other end of the fuse-holder L, out through the plate a,wire 7:, and connects with the binding-post terminal K. Nhen the circuitis thus completed, the electromagnet E is energized, attracting itsarmature e. As the armature e is connected to the cords l) I), it

scopes draws the same in over the pulleys f 1, which cords in turnimpart their motion to the springs c c, causing the stops a and a to bedrawn outwardly, thereby releasing the lowest or burned-out f use-holderand allowin it to drop by the force of gravity out of place, permittingthe next holder above to take its place automatically. As the lowestholder leaves the guides the contact is broken between the metallicplates (0 a and the pins 0 of the fuse-holder, allowing the armature ofthe electromagnet to return to its original position, at the same timeallowing the springstops at a to return to their original positions. Thenew fuse-holder as it drops into position will not complete the localcircuit until the fuse blows out, as the fuse while in position holdsthese pins in their innermost position against the tension of theirsprings, and consequently out of contact with the metallic plates a a".

lVhen the device is used in circuit with a direct current, the magnet Emay be so wound as to receive the current from the line instead of froman auxiliary or local circuit. In this case the line connections aremade simply with the binding-posts C D, and the doublepole switch T isclosed, thereby connecting the binding-posts I D and K C. Ordinarily theline-current will flow through the device exactly as traced with thealternating current until the fuse blows out. Then the current from theline startingat the binding-post C will flow through the blade i of theswitch T, binding-post K, wire 7t, metallic plate c pin 0, spring 0,wire 0 spring 0', pin 0, plate a wire j, binding-post J, electromagnetE, binding-post I, the other side 15 of switch T, and out throughbinding-postD, or vice versa, according to the direction of flow of thecurrent. The lowest: fuse-holder L will then au-' tomatically drop outand allow the succeeding one to automatically drop into its place, asdescribed in connection with the separate auxiliary or local circuit. Bysuch a device it is obvious that as soon as one fuse blows out theholder can be refitted with a new fuse and placed upon the top of thepile without disturbing the other holders.

The device is preferably completely inclosed while in action and isprovided with a door A, hinged at A to the inclosing case A.

While I have shown my invention as embodied in the form herein shown, itis obvious to any one skilled in the art that many modifications may bemade in my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, it beingunderstood that I do not limit myself to the precise form of apparatusshown.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a safety fuse-box, the combination with an inelosing case, a pairof stops connected in the line-circuit mounted therein, an electromagnetadapted to actuate said stops, and a pair of contacts connected in saidmag- ICC net-circuit carried by said case; of a plurality of separatefuse-holders mounted in said case, conducting-plates normally inengagement with said stops, and pins electrically connected together,and slidably mounted in said holders, adapted to engage said contacts insaid case when the fuse is blown out, substantially as described.

2. In a safety fuse-box, the combination with an inclosing case, a pairof stops connected in the line-circuit mounted therein, an electromagnetadapted to actuate said stops, and a pair of contacts connected in suchmagnet-circuit carried by said case; of a plurality of separatefuse-holders, a fuse within each of said holders, sliding pins eachconnected to said fuse, insulated ends upon said pins, springs inconnection with said insulated ends, electrical connection between saidsprings, said portions being adapted to complete the magnet-circuitthrough said contacts in said case when the fuse blows out, andconducting-plates upon the under sides of said holders adapted to restupon said stops, through which the line-current passes to the fuse,whereby when the fuse is blown out, the circuit is completed through themag net, withdrawing said stops, causing the blown-out fuse-holder to beejected, allowing the next holder to drop into place, substantially asdescribed;

3. In a safety fuse-box, the combination with an inclosing case, a pairof stops connected in the line-circuit mounted therein, an electromagnetadapted to actuate said stops, and a pair of contacts connected in saidmagnet-circuit, carried by said case; of a plurality of fuse-holderseach independently movable in said case, said holders being adapted torest upon said stops, fuses carried by said holders, each fuse beingadapted to be thrown into the circuit when its holder rests upon saidstops, and sliding pins adapted to engage the electrical contacts ofsaid case when the fuse blows out,to complete the circuit through themagnet, causing the same to withdraw the stops, allowing the nextfuse-holder to drop into place, substantially as described.

4. In a safety fuse-box, the combination with an inclosing case, a pairof stops con nected in the line-circuit mounted therein, anelectromagnet adapted to actuate said stops, and a pair of contactsconnected in said magnet-circuit, also carried by said case; of aplurality of fuse-holders mounted in said case, plates upon the underside of each said holders, adapted to rest upon said stops, and fuses inconnection with said plates, and spring-actuated pins carried by saidholders, whereby when said fuse blows out, said pins are sprung intocontact with said electrical contacts, closing the magnet-circuit,causing said magnet to withdrawsaid stops and allow the succeedingholder to drop into place, substantially as described.

5. A safety fuse-holder, comprisingan insulating-base, conducting-platesupon each end of said base, sliding pins adapted to carry a fuse mountedin said'base, in electrical connection with said conducting-plates,insulated couplings carried by said pins, springs normally tending tothrow said pins outwardly, and electrical connection between saidsprings, whereby when said fuse is blown out, said springs are thrownoutwardly, sub stantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of'two witnesses.

JAMES 'I. WATSON.

WVitnesses:

J. ALBERT CRANE, H.'W. Horn.

